Using PyCharm’s Built‑in Database and HTTP Client Features for Backend Development

Before using the features described, note that they are only supported in PyCharm Professional; the Community or Educational editions may lack them.

As a backend developer, you likely have multiple tools open—Navicat for database connections, Postman for API testing, and PyCharm for coding. This guide shows lesser‑known PyCharm functions that can unify these tools, reducing screen switching.

Database Integration

The Database tool, accessible via one of the two vertical icons in the upper‑right corner of PyCharm, lets you add connections to many database types, including MySQL. After entering the connection name, host, port, user, password, and database name, click “Test Connection” (the first test may download the driver). Once connected, you can view tables, columns, types, and comments, and perform visual CRUD operations just like in Navicat.

With this tool you can abandon Navicat and manage databases directly inside the IDE.

HTTP Client

PyCharm also includes an HTTP Client that can replace Postman for RESTful API testing. Create a new .http file in a test directory; the file uses a fixed format to define request method, URL, headers, and body. You can add requests via the “Add Request” shortcut, then run them by clicking the arrow next to the method. The response is displayed in a pane similar to Postman's UI.

Example GET and POST requests are demonstrated, showing JSON responses and successful insertion of a new record into the database. The workflow allows you to define GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests for each data model and run them instantly, combined with the Database tool to modify data without leaving the IDE.

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